Saint Margaret of Cortona Biography
Saint Margaret of Cortona Profile. Born: 1247 AD in Italy, Europe. Worked in Italy. Died: 22 February 1297 in Cortona, Italy. Feast Day is celebrated on February 22, May 6.
The Memorial of Saint Margaret of Cortona – Saint of the Day |
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Saint Margaret of Cortona Biography, Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date |
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Date of Birth |
1247 AD |
Country of Birth |
Italy in Europe |
Matrimony/Holy Orders |
Saints who were Nuns/Sisters |
Profession |
Missionary |
Place of Work |
Italy |
Date of Death |
22 February 1297 |
Place of Death |
Cortona, Italy |
Feast Day |
February 22, May 6 |
Beatification |
Beatified by Pope Leo X in 1515 |
Canonization |
Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on 16 May 1728 |
Patron Saint of |
against insanity |
Saint Margaret of Cortona Biography
Saint Margaret of Cortona was a farmer‘s daughter. Her mother died when Margaret was seven and her step-mother considered her a nuisance. Margaret got married to a young nobleman from Montepulciano, bore him a son and lived as his mistress for nine years. However, in 1274 he was murdered by brigands and his body dumped in a shallow grave.
She considered the incident as a sign from God. She publicly confessed to the affair and returned to her father‘s house. Her father would not accept her and took shelter with the Friars Minor at Cortona together with her son. Still young and attractive, she sometimes had trouble resisting temptation, but each incident was followed by periods of deep self-hatred. To make herself unattractive to local young men, she once tried to Change herself but was stopped by a friar named Giunta.
She earned her living by tending to sick women. Margaret later began caring for the sick poor, living on alms and asking nothing for her services. She became a Franciscan tertiary in 1277 AD. Margaret developed a deep prayer life and was given to self-denial during which she received messages from heaven.
In 1286, Margaret received an approval to work with the sick poor. She gathered others of her kind and formed them into a community of tertiaries. They were later given the status of a congregation called the Poverelle (Poor Ones). Together, they founded a hospital at Cortona. Margaret preached against vices of all kind to any who would listen. She developed a great devotion to the Eucharist and prophesied the date of her own death.
Though she worked for those in need and the poor sought her help and advice, the character of her earlier life followed her the rest of her days and she was forever the target of local gossips.
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